Albion fan and Hassocks Fatboy manager bids for Garcia's job

Meet the latest candidate to throw his hat into the ring to be the next Albion manager – Scott McCarthy.

The name might not be familiar to Seagulls fans but his CV certainly impresses, having taken his current side from relegation fodder to promotion giants in just two seasons.

With his success in transforming Hassocks Fatboys in the Sussex Sunday League, the 26-year-old believes he is ready for the big time with Albion and the chance to make it third time lucky for Premier League promotion next season.

The Brighton and Sussex Medical School student has sent off an email to the Championship club’s chief executive Paul Barber outlining a compelling argument on why he is the man to fill Oscar Garcia’s shoes after the Spanish coach quit on Monday.

Former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood, ex-Cardiff manager Malky Mackay and Real Madrid coach Paul Clement have all been linked with the job at the Amex this week.

Mr McCarthy, from Royal George Road in Burgess Hill, attributes the rise of his Fatboys, who were on the brink of relegation to Division Six when he took the helm two seasons ago, to
hard work on the training pitch and “an analytical approach to talent acquisition”.

He also claims to use “out-of-the-box” thinking to get the most out of his playing squad, including deploying goalkeepers at centre back and full-backs up front.

The Albion season ticketholder believes his thinking is vital in the era of Financial Fair Play to squeeze the most out of the playing staff.

He now hopes that he can leave behind Sunday league problems of hungover players and a 69-year-old’s hernia.

He wants a second bite at the professional game, having previously answered a newspaper advert to scout for Cheltenham Town five years ago.

He said: “I just think of some of the current managers in the game, Harry Redknapp, who has spent more money than Dortmund but can’t get QPR automatic promotion, and I don’t think I could do a lot worse.

“Technically I have more experience than Tim Sherwood and [Real Madrid coach] Paul Clement. Clement has never managed anyone.

“I think the main difference if I did take over at Albion will be players’ conditioning.

“Albion have professional footballers who don’t have to come off for being hungover or a 69-year-old midfielder whose hernia has gone, or a 62-year-old captain who was a bit injury prone.

“I think Oscar did a good job so I was a bit disappointed to see him go but maybe he missed a trick by not playing Peter Brezovan up front with his height.